Tewkesbury

Tewkesbury's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population reached nearly 82,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Tewkesbury increased by 7.3%, from just over 76,400 to 81,900.

The addition of just over 5,500 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Tewkesbury was home to, on average, 1.4 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Tewkesbury

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Tewkesbury increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 2,700 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 2,000.

About 13% of people in Tewkesbury are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Tewkesbury by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Tewkesbury

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Tewkesbury, but at a slower rate than in Gloucester (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Tewkesbury).

In Tewkesbury, the proportion of single people increased from 24% in 2001 to 26% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Gloucester increased from 29% to 34%.

Across the South West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 27% to 31%.

The proportion of married people in Tewkesbury fell from 58% to 55%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Tewkesbury

The percentage of Tewkesbury residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 7.7% to 7.5% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 2.5%, while the percentage of Tewkesbury residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 7.0% in 2001 to 7.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The percentage of Tewkesbury residents that were studying increased from 2.2% to 2.4% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 57%, while the percentage of Tewkesbury residents that were unemployed increased from 2.0% to 2.8%.

The proportion of students increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.6% to 3.5%.

The percentage of students was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were in education across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Tewkesbury

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 25% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 25% in 2001

The number of people in Tewkesbury that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 10,000 in 2001 to about 20,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 13% to 25% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the South West (from 17% to 30%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Tewkesbury that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 60,000 in 2001 to about 55,000 in 2011 (from 79% to 67%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 5,300 to just over 5,800 (from 7.0% to 7.1%).

About 280 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 180 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in Tewkesbury increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Tewkesbury by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Tewkesbury

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 98% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 98% in 2001

The number of people in Tewkesbury from the White ethnic groups increased from about 75,000 in 2001 to about 80,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South West (from 98% to 95%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Tewkesbury from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 440 in 2001 to about 900 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.1%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 460 to about 780 (from 0.6% to 1.0%).

Just under 260 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 96 in 2001 (0.3%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Tewkesbury decreased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Tewkesbury by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Tewkesbury, but at a slower rate than across the South West.

In Tewkesbury, the proportion of private renting increased from 7.5% in 2001 to 12% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 11% to 17%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in Tewkesbury remained close to 12%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 78% to 74%.

Private renting in Tewkesbury increased by 4.9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Tewkesbury, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Tewkesbury residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Tewkesbury residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Tewkesbury decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Tewkesbury, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Tewkesbury working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 13% to 10% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.9% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Tewkesbury decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Tewkesbury, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Tewkesbury without children increased from 63% to 64% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in four (27%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 28% in 2001. The percentage of households in Tewkesbury with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.9% to 9.0%.

The proportion of households without children increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 64% in 2001 to 65% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Tewkesbury residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.0% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.9%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 2.0% in 2001 to 2.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Tewkesbury remained close to 2.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Tewkesbury by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Tewkesbury, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.3% to 7.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38%) households had a married couple, compared with 42% in 2001. While the percentage of households in Tewkesbury, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.2% to 10%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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